By Purity Njoki
What does it really mean to be a good parent? Is it simply about providing food, clothing, shelter and education, or is there more to raising a child? In today’s fast-changing world, parenting looks very different from what it looked like generations ago. Children are growing up surrounded by technology, social media, changing family dynamics and increasing social and economic pressures. As much as these changes have transformed childhood, one thing remains constant; every child need love, security, guidance and a sense of belonging. This is where positive parenting comes in.
Positive parenting is more than meeting a child’s physical needs. It is about building strong relationships based on love, respect and trust. It is about listening before reacting, guiding instead of punishing and helping children learn from their mistakes rather than making them afraid of making them. In doing so, parents nurture children who are confident, responsible, emotionally resilient and equipped to make wise decisions throughout their lives. Positive parenting encourages parents to first understand the reason behind a child’s behaviour before deciding how to respond. By listening with empathy, communicating calmly and setting clear, consistent boundaries, parents help children learn self-discipline while building trust and confidence. After all, children learn not only from what we say but also from how we treat them.
Recognizing the importance of strengthening parenting practices across Kenya, the Legacy for Children (L4C) Programme, in collaboration with the State Department for Children’s Services (SDCS), organized an eight-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on the National Positive Parenting Programme (NPPP) from 29th June to 6th July 2026 at the Gitoro Pastoral and Conference Centre in Meru. The training aimed to equip participants with the knowledge, practical skills and facilitation techniques needed to roll out the National Positive Parenting Programme within their respective counties.
Child in Family Focus – Kenya (CFFK) was represented by two staff members who joined participants from L4C Local Implementing Partners, the State Department for Children’s Services, county children’s officers from Meru, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Kiambu, Ministry of Health representatives, LevHaAv International and Macheo. Together, they were trained as Trainers of Trainers who will play a key role in supporting communities to adopt parenting approaches that promote the wellbeing, protection and healthy development of children.
One of the most powerful lessons from the training was that positive parenting is about nurturing, empowering and using non-violent discipline. It calls on parents and caregivers to challenge long-held beliefs about parenting and embrace approaches that strengthen relationships rather than damage them. Parenting is not about having all the answers or being perfect. It is about being willing to learn, grow and create an environment where children feel safe enough to learn from both their successes and their mistakes.
Throughout the training, participants explored Kenya’s National Positive Parenting Programme, facilitation skills, safeguarding principles, self-care practices, monitoring and evaluation tools and implementation strategies that will support the successful rollout of the programme across communities. The programme emphasized on the importance of protecting children, promoting healthy family relationships and ensuring that parents receive the support they need to raise children in positive and nurturing environments.
Parenting has never been easy and no parent gets it right every time. Every day brings new challenges such as balancing work and family responsibilities, navigating the influence of technology and social media on children’s lives, among others. Despite these challenges, every parent has the opportunity to make choices that strengthen their relationship with their child. Sometimes, the most powerful parenting tools do not need to be complicated or expensive. They are simple things like patience, kindness, consistency and a willingness to listen.
As CFFK’s trained staff begin sharing the knowledge they acquired from the training with parents and caregivers across communities, the hope is that more families will embrace parenting built on respect, understanding and encouragement. Positive parenting is not the responsibility of parents alone. Families, schools, faith communities, health workers and society all have a role to play in creating environments where children feel protected, heard and supported.
As parents, caregivers and members of the community, we should all ask ourselves one simple question: What kind of future are we helping create for our children today? The answer begins with how we choose to parent them. By choosing kindness over violence, guidance over punishment and connection over control. This lay the foundation for stronger families and healthier communities.